On Thursday, Zelensky backtracked, saying the new bill was intended to safeguard the independence of Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (Sap), and to protect them from Russian influence.

Ukraine has seen the first anti-government protests since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion over three years ago, as a move by President Volodymyr Zelensky to curb anti-corruption agencies sparked fury across the nation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has finalized a new set of regulations on the work of the anti-corruption authorities in the wake of protests against controversial new legislation passed by the parliament in Kiev.